The Battle of Naseby

Question 1

When was it?

Answer 1

14 June 1645

Question 2

Troops

Answer 2

Royalist was 6000 cavalry and 5000 infantry

Parliamentarian was 7000 cavalry and 7000 infantry

Question 3

Positioning

Answer 3

Two armies were positioned opposite each other on opposing ridges. The parliamentarians were placed on a slightly higher ridge and they also had thick hedges and boggy ground on their flanks, so they had a slight advantage.

Question 4

What was created as a result of the Battle of Naseby?

Answer 4

The new model army was developed as a result of the Battle of Naseby. The parliamentarians had used this in the battle effectively to win it. The new model army was the first full-time professional army. An act for it was passed in 1775 by parliament.

Question 5

What were the key events of the battle?

Answer 5

• The royalists advanced up the hill towards the parliamentarians who advanced over the ridge to meet them.
• Next the parliamentarian cavalry begin to flee so the royalist cavalry chase them and attack them for plunder.
• Thirdly, the centre of the parliamentarian army begin to lose ground as the royalist army continued to attack causing the first parliamentarian army to be broken.
• Fourthly, the royalist cavalry began to break away and flee the battlefield. Cromwell sent his first line to chase them away but kept the rest close by.
• Next, Cromwell turns the second and third lines of the new model army to attack Royalist infantry in the flanks and rear. Fairfax combines an attack with Cromwell’s to attack the royalist foot soldiers, some of them surrender and the rest flee.
• Finally, the foot soldiers, dragoons and horses from the new model army are brought up by the royalist army. This planning and manoeuvring intimated the parliamentarian army causing the cavalry to flee and the infantry to surrender. The royalists had won.

Question 6

Who were the leaders of the sides?

Answer 6

Parliamentarians were led by General Fairfax

Royalists were led by Charles.

Question 7

Why was Cromwell so important?

Answer 7

He was a very good general in 1643 and 44 and trained the best cavalry ro create a strong core to the New Model army, his leadership in the east wing of the battle field was excellent and thirdly he was one of the key politicians who supported the campaign for the creation of the New Model Army.